The fossils were discovered in what was once an ancient billabong near Winton, central Queensland by the Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum, with museum staff nick-naming the dinosaur “Banjo”, after the famous Australian poet, Andrew Barton “Banjo” Paterson.

Banjo has been described as a medium-sized, very fast, carnivorous dinosaur. Unlike most theropod dinosaurs, this animal had massive arms and hands with two of its three hand claws being razor sharp weapons that would have been used to capture prey. It is believed that Banjo would have been approximately two metres tall and five metres long from the snout to the end of the tail.

The coin is struck by The Perth Mint from 1oz of 99.9% pure silver in proof quality, and issued as legal tender under the Australian Currency Act 1965.

The Perth Mint will release no more than 5,000 of the Australian Age of Dinosaurs – Australovenator 2014 1oz Silver Proof Coloured Coin.

The coin’s reverse depicts an Australovenator wintonensis set against a colourful, prehistoric scene. The inscription AUSTRALOVENATOR and The Perth Mint’s ‘P’ mintmark are also incorporated into the design. The coin’s obverse depicts the Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the 2014 year-date, and the monetary denomination.

This coin is housed in The Perth Mint’s grey presentation case with a nicely illustrated shipper, and is accompanied by a numbered Certificate of Authenticity.